Religious Events for week beginning 26th January 2009

Please note this is just a sample of one week. The future events service contains information for the next three weeks

Monday 26th January

1564 - Council of Trent issues conclusions in Tridentinum establishing distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.
1565 - Battle of Talikota, fought between Vijayanagara Empire and the Islamic sultanates of the Deccan, leads to the subjugation, and eventual destruction of the last Hindu kingdom in India, and the consolidation of Islamic rule over much of the Indian subcontinent.
1813 – Birth of Juan Pablo Duarte, Dominican founding father
1980 - Israel and Egypt establish diplomatic relations
Roman Catholic: Timothy and Titus, Saint Paula, Saint Alberic, Saint Margaret of Hungary
Anglican: Timothy and Titus, Companions of Paul

Archbishops Council of the Russian Orthodox Church meets to elect candidates for Patriarch

Chinese New Year according to Gregorian calendar

Australia Day (Formerly ‘Invasion Day’, but said to contradict spirit of reconciliation)

World Social Forum marks Global Call for Action

Cannabis reclassification comes into force

Informal meeting of Russia-NATO Council held in Brussels

Trial of Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga suspected of war crimes restarts at Hague

Guantanamo Bay inmate Canadian national Omar Khadr, accused of throwing a grenade that killed a US soldier in Afghanistan in 2002 when he was 15, faces trial. (May not go ahead now new US President is in office)

EU foreign ministers to discuss taking Guantanamo prisoners at their meeting in Brussels

International Development Select Committee takes evidence on Sustainable Development in a Changing Climate from Christian Aid, Tearfund and the World Development Movement (11.15)

Home Affairs Select Committee takes evidence on Knife Crime from the Scout Association

Scottish parliament's standards committee meets to discuss statements by the First Minister to the Scottish Parliament, Alex Fergusson, arising out of a question concerning £120,000 funding of Scottish inter-faith council

Zimbabwe schools due to reopen

‘Superstition: Belief in the Age of Science’, Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London 7.00pm

St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation launches ‘Facing the Truth’ – Films about South Africa 10 years after the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, 020 7496 1610, enquiries@stethelburgas.org www.stethelburgas.org

Seven prayer nights at seven different locations across London begin. Organised by Global Day of Prayer GDOP London: 08456 528 600 www.gdoplondon.com

Thursday 29th January

904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over papacy from the deposed antipope Christopher
1119 – Death of Pope Gelasius II
1240 – Death of Pelagio Galvani, Cardinal-Bishop of Albano
1998 - Bomb explodes at abortion clinic in Alabama, killing one and severely wounding another.
2002 - George W. Bush describes coins phrase ‘Axis of Evil’ in State of the Union Address

Roman Catholic saints - Valerius of Trèves, Saint Juniper

Local Council of Russian Orthodox ends meeting discussing appointment of new Patriach

House of Commons: Debate on Holocaust Memorial Day

House of Lords debates Political aspects of addressing climate change (Lord Browne of Madingley/Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)

Catholicism: St. Mutien-Marie Wiaux, St. Hippolytus, St. Hyacintha Mariscotti, St. Aldegonde, St. Bathild, St. Martina, Virgin and Martyr, c. 226 AD, St. Savina, martyred under Emperor Diocletian, St. Anthony the Great's feast in the Coptic Church, Eastern (Byzantine) Catholic Church: Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs This Feast honours the three great Fathers of the Eastern Church --St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom

Anglican: Charles, King and Martyr, 1649

Society of King Charles the Martyr observes anniversary of King Charles I’s execution with service outside Banqueting House, laying wreaths and saying prayers, followed by High Mass and sermon inside Banqueting House. +44 (0) 844 482 7777

Jesus and Muhammad for Muslims and Christians. An exploration of the actualities and possibilities in both faith traditions. St Ethelburga’s +44 (0)20 7496 1610 : enquiries@stethelburgas.org www.stethelburgas.org

Sunday 1 February

1918 - Russia adopts Gregorian Calendar
1960 - Four black students stage the first of the Greensboro sit-ins at a lunch counter in North Carolina.

Feast day of Astina in the Syrian church

Roman Catholic Church: Feast Day of St. Brigid, patron saint of Ireland.

Anglican: Brigid, Abbess of Kildare, c.525

National Freedom Day in the United States

Homelessness Sunday

Anglican Primates meet in Alexandria, Egypt (till 5th)

Clown Service, London. Clowns from all over the world attend church service in full make-up and costume from 16:00 Holy Trinity Church, Beechwood Road, Dalston, E8

Start of LGBT History Month

Celebration of Chinese New Year (Year of the Ox) in London

New Patriach of Russian Orthodox church enthroned

Catholic Bishop Lindsay's body received into St Mary's Cathedral

African Union Summit of heads of state and government held in Addis Ababa (till 3rd)